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Stamford Teen Dances Role Of Sugar Plum Fairy In 'Nutcracker'

GREENWICH, Conn. -- The Greenwich Ballet Academy will perform the "Nutcracker" at the White Plains Performing Arts Center on Friday, Dec. 5, and Saturday, Dec. 6.

Seventh-grader Elisabeth Beyer from Rye, N.Y., has a top role in the "Nutcracker" production by the Greenwich Ballet Academy.

Seventh-grader Elisabeth Beyer from Rye, N.Y., has a top role in the "Nutcracker" production by the Greenwich Ballet Academy.

Photo Credit: Contributed

The Greenwich Ballet Academy's entire cast is comprised of students, including performers from Stamford, Easton and Rye, N.Y.

“The school’s outstanding reputation has spread and now we have students commuting from far and wide to come to us,"  Marisol Rivera Thurman, president and chairman of the board for Greenwich Ballet Academy, said in a statement. "As enrollment surpassed 100 students this year we decided it was time to present our wonderful production of the 'Nutcracker' in a venue that is convenient for the broader community. The White Plains Performing Arts Center is such a place.” 

The Greenwich Ballet Academy’s "Nutcracker" production is unique in that it draws from its own students for all of the casting.

Stamford resident Maria Jose Esquivel, a 16-year-old senior from Holy Child High School in Rye and a longtime GBA soloist, will perform the starring role of the Sugar Plum Fairy for the second year.

Additionally, American Grand Prix competitors Laura Baruch from Scarsdale and Emma Kelly from Easton will each perform as the Snow Queen for the first time.

Aidan Buss, a sixth-grader from Old Greenwich will be the Prince, and seventh-grader Elisabeth Beyer from Rye will be performing the role of Clara. She has just returned from Paris, where she was invited to compete in the 2015 Youth American Grand Prix European semifinals and placed second in the classical category in a field of 116 dancers.

“It is remarkable to see our 16- and 17-year-olds brilliantly perform the parts of Snow Queen and Sugar Plum, usually reserved for guest professional dancers in other school’s productions," Thurman said. "One of our former Sugar Plums now dances for the Paris Opera Ballet.” 

Showtime is at 7 p.m. Friday. Saturday will feature a 2 p.m. matinee and a second performance at 7 p.m. 

Click here to purchase tickets online. 

Call 914-305-4377 or visit www.greenwichballetacademy.org for more information. 

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